Royal Free completes takeover of hospital services in Barnet and Enfield

The Royal Free has completed its takeover of hospital services in Barnet and Enfield in a multi-million pound deal.

Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals now make up part of the Royal Free London NHS Trust, which will now oversee healthcare provision at all three sites.

David Sloman, chief executive of the Royal Free, said in a statement: “I am delighted. We believe that by bringing our two organisations together we can provide the very best healthcare for patients across all our sites.

“This is the biggest development in the history of our organisation for 40 years and it is a hugely exciting time for everyone at the trust.

“I wish to welcome all Barnet and Chase Farm staff to the Royal Free and I want to thank everyone who has worked so hard to ensure this transaction went ahead as smoothly as possible.”

The takeover has been more than a year in the planning and will include the redevelopment of Chase Farm Hospital in Enfield.

The Royal Free board has also pledged that “almost all patients will continue to be seen in the same location they were seen before”, with notifications being sent to those affected by any changes.

The Northern Ireland Secretary said: “I have sought assurances that services at Barnet and Chase Farm will not be negatively affected by the transition and repeatedly I have received those positive assurances.

“The Royal Free is a centre of excellence with many highly impressive specialist clinicians. I believe that this link-up means that my constituents will get greater access to that expertise.

“I will continue to press the new merged management of the two hospital trusts to ensure my constituents get the best possible care."